Japanese municipalities reduce office hours to promote digital services

Several Japanese municipalities are reducing their administrative office hours to promote work-style reforms and encourage the use of digital and convenience store services.

Osakasayama City will begin a trial period on November 2, reducing its window service hours from 9:00–17:30 to 9:00–16:30. This initiative aims to improve efficiency through online applications and convenience store document issuance. If successful, full implementation is planned for May 2027. Nearby Tondabayashi City has already implemented a similar change, closing at 17:00.

In Nanao City, officials plan to shorten service hours from 8:30–17:15 to 9:00–16:30, starting with a trial in January 2025. The city noted a significant increase in residents using convenience stores for certificate issuance, which rose from 1,327 cases in 2020 to 13,185 in the previous fiscal year. The reduction aims to alleviate staff workload caused by overtime spent on preparation and cleanup.